By Prof. Felice JackaPresident of the International Society for Nutritional Psychiatry Research

We’ve come a long way in how society think about, discusses and promotes mental health, however, mental health remains an important public health issue. Approximately 1 in 5 people will experience a mental disorder in their lifetime, and the burden of mental disorder is substantial on both an individual and societal level. Concurrently, diet has changed dramatically in the past several decades; nutrient poor, highly processed foods now comprise a large portion of our modern diets, with traditional staples such as whole grains and vegetables increasingly left off our places. While current psychiatric treatment approaches are life changing for many, there remains a gap between those who require care, and those who receive effective treatment. New approaches for the prevention and treatment of mental disorders are increasingly needed in psychiatry, and emerging evidence suggests that diet is as important to the brain as it is to the body.

By Michelle Pearce, PhD

Over one third of people in the US are on a diet. Even when diets are successful, 50% of people gain the weight back after 12 months or less. With 70% of Americans obese or overweight, we desperately need to find a way to better manage our weight and take care of our bodies.​Thankfully psychologists have figured out a more effective way of eating and managing our waistlines. What they have discovered is not a diet or a weight loss gimmick. It’s not about prioritizing one type of food over others or banishing a food group from your plate. In fact, it has less to do with what you eat than with how and why you eat. This more effective way of eating is called mindful eating.

​By Jason Bosley-Smith, MS, LDN, CNS, FDN

Memory, focus, thought, creativity, analysis. Our brains perform these functions and many more in the daily processing of information. Perhaps even more essential, our brains regulate the bodily processes necessary for basic survival. Even the slightest impairment to brain function can be felt in dramatic fashion throughout our bodies whether it’s a lack of mental clarity, altered mood, or a downstream effect in the way we digest food.​According to Gómez-Pinilla, dietary factors can affect multiple brain processes by regulating neurotransmitter pathways, synaptic transmission, membrane fluidity and signal-transduction pathways.(1)

A nutrient-dense, anti-inflammatory diet rich in colorful plant foods and healthy fats serves as the basis for brain-supportive nutrition. To truly target and enhance these various brain processes, research suggests that there are several nutrients that are of particular value:

By Chris D'Adamo, PhD

A lot is talked about in terms of how diet and other lifestyle modalities, being more active, managing stress, not smoking, can reduce the risk of getting cancer. But if you're someone who is living with cancer, there are a number of strategies that you can use to optimize your prognosis.

I'll break this into a series, but in this video we're going to talk about inflammation and metabolism as two very important areas of cancer prognosis that can be modified throughfood and supplements.

​By Kalpana Shere-Wolfe, MD

​Ayurveda, which literally means knowledge of life, is the ancient medical system of India. Ayurveda states that we are made up of the same substance as that of the universe – we are an integral part of it and therefore should follow the natural laws of the universe. The major elements or mahabhutas of Space, Air, Fire, Water, and Earth which make up our world are also part of us. From these arise the doshas – Vata, Pitta and Kapha which are responsible for maintaining proper function and balance of body and mind. Vata consists of Air and Space and is responsible for bodily functions that involvement movement such as circulation, heartbeat, respiration, elimination. It has the qualities of cold, dry, mobile, subtle, rough, and light. Pitta consists of Fire and Water and is responsible for digestion, metabolism and energy production. It has the qualities of hot, sharp, sour, pungent, liquid, flowing and oily. Kapha consists of Water and Earth and is responsible for physical structure and fluid balance. It has the qualities of oily, heavy, cool, slow, dull, sticky and stable.

​By Rebekah Owens

​We often hear about what we should or shouldn’t eat, but did you know that HOW you eat, WHEN you eat and HOW MUCH you eat are also very important for good digestion and health? Harvard Medical School published an article on Mindful Eating, which is a great way to use mindfulness meditation as part of your mealtime and snack time activities. Additionally, there are ways to enjoy your food more and eat less using a few simple tricks. These are not just for weight loss; they are beneficial for every eater across the board for best digestion and increased meal enjoyment. Food should be fuel for your body, mind and soul. These tips will help you in your quest for best health.

Dr. William Rollow is Director of Clinical Services and a practicing integrative and functional medicine physician at the Center for Integrative Health & Healing, the clinical practice of the Center for Integrative Medicine at the University of Maryland School of Medicine. Digestive health is one of his many specialties. Read his full bio here.

​Here are a few of his thoughts on how to keep your digestive tract working at peak performance.

By Jason Bosley-Smith, MS, LDN, CNS, FDN

Probiotics are among the most highly used nutritional supplements today, with data from the 2012 National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) showing that about 4 million (1.6 percent) U.S. adults had used probiotics or prebiotics in the 30 days prior to the survey.(1) Among adults, probiotics were the third most commonly used dietary supplement other than vitamins and minerals, and the use of probiotics quadrupled between 2007 and 2012.(1) The 2012 NHIS also showed that 300,000 children age 4 to 17 had used probiotics or prebiotics in the 30 days before the survey.(1) While supplementation with probiotics is often beneficial and necessary for a therapeutic intervention, we can derive these same beneficial bacteria through fermented foods.

​Compiled by Rebekah Owens

​I know – mornings are hard. For many of us, we need our coffee and often don’t have time for anything else. Between packing lunches, showers, getting kids fed, dressed and off to school and yourself off to work, where is there time to make a healthy breakfast, let alone EAT one? We researched delicious recipes in search of wonderful ways to start your morning that you can make ahead of time. These are some of my personal favorite:

By Jason Bosley-Smith, MS, LDN, CNS, FDN

​Cancer is perhaps the most feared chronic disease in modern times, and as Siddhartha Mukherjee designates in his seminal work, the “Emperor of All Maladies”. Perhaps rightfully so. According to statistics from the American Cancer Society, the estimated number of new cancer cases in the US in 2016 will exceed 1.6 million, and estimated cancer deaths will reach nearly 600,000.(1) To understand how we can mitigate our risk for cancer in light of these rather daunting numbers, it is helpful to first understand exactly how cancer arises in the body.

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